MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) Now Covered by JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. initiated coverage on shares of MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) in a research note issued to investors on Friday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. The brokerage issued an overweight rating and a $145.00 price target on the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on MKSI. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Tuesday, September 10th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $140.00 target price for the company. Benchmark restated a “buy” rating and set a $142.00 price objective on shares of MKS Instruments in a report on Monday, November 18th. Citigroup lowered MKS Instruments from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $145.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on MKS Instruments from $120.00 to $110.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 3rd. Finally, Mizuho raised MKS Instruments to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 7th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, MKS Instruments presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $141.42.

MKS Instruments Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI opened at $112.55 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 3.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.98. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $108.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $117.04. The company has a market cap of $7.57 billion, a PE ratio of 250.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.66 and a beta of 1.65. MKS Instruments has a twelve month low of $90.90 and a twelve month high of $147.40.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 6th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.45 by $0.27. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 15.79% and a net margin of 0.90%. The business had revenue of $896.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $874.29 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.46 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 3.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that MKS Instruments will post 6.33 EPS for the current year.

MKS Instruments Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 6th. Investors of record on Monday, November 25th were given a dividend of $0.22 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, November 25th. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.78%. MKS Instruments’s dividend payout ratio is currently 195.56%.

Insider Activity at MKS Instruments

In other news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $113.41, for a total transaction of $31,187.75. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 17,659 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,002,707.19. The trade was a 1.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Director Jacqueline F. Moloney sold 300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.80, for a total transaction of $34,440.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 9,983 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,146,048.40. This trade represents a 2.92 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 825 shares of company stock valued at $92,853 over the last ninety days. 0.46% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MKS Instruments

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. State Street Corp increased its holdings in MKS Instruments by 3.5% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,954,881 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $212,515,000 after purchasing an additional 65,200 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,172,517 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $127,496,000 after buying an additional 51,519 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its stake in shares of MKS Instruments by 108.6% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,019,134 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $110,789,000 after acquiring an additional 530,620 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its position in shares of MKS Instruments by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 663,414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock valued at $72,120,000 after acquiring an additional 45,862 shares during the period. Finally, Ceredex Value Advisors LLC boosted its stake in MKS Instruments by 17.8% during the third quarter. Ceredex Value Advisors LLC now owns 509,883 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company’s stock worth $55,429,000 after acquiring an additional 77,025 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.79% of the company’s stock.

About MKS Instruments

MKS Instruments, Inc provides foundational technology solutions to semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications in the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, and internationally. It operates through Vacuum Solutions Division (VSD), Photonics Solutions Division (PSD), and Material Solutions Division (MSD) segments.